Method of and apparatus for decreasing the spacing between articles

ABSTRACT

The spacing between articles depending from a deformable strip of stock material is decreased by crimping the strip between each adjacent pair of articles. The crimps are formed at spaced intervals starting with the centermost portions of the strip and progressing outwardly therefrom until a crimp is formed between each adjacent article pair. Crimping is accomplished by an arrangement of concentric piston-rams which are sequentially moved to advance pairs of forming tools to crimp and decrease the length of the strip of stock material.

United States Patent Baldwin, Jr. et al.

[451 Mar. 21, 1972 [54] METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR DECREASING THESPACING BETWEEN ARTICLES [72] lnventors: William M. Baldwin, Jr.;Vincent A.

Rayburn, both of Baltimore, Md.

[73] Assignee: Western Electric Company Incorporated,

New York, NY.

[22] Filed: July 18, 1969 21 App1.No.: 843,107

521 user ..72/403,72/453,9l/168,

92/52 51 mu. ..B2lj9/l2 5s FieldofSearch ..72/403,3s5,3s1,4s3,347,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 24,689 7/1859 Worthen..72/403 763,887 6/1904 Hastings 1,141,077 5/1915 Sickman.... 1,537,7535/1925 Craven ..72/403 2,143,429 1/1939 Auble ..72/453 2,804,848 9/1957OFarrell. .....91/l68 2,948,325 8/1960 Welindt ..72/313 2,954,068 9/1960 Williamson ..72/403 3,128,674 4/1964 Ganchar ..91/167 FOREIGNPATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,243,071 8/1960 France ..92/52 1,101,964 4/1959Germany ..91/168 Primary Examiner-Charles W. Lanham AssistantExaminerGene P. Crosby Att0rneyl-l. J. Winegar, R. P. Miller and R. Y.Peters [57] ABSTRACT The spacing between articles depending from adeformable strip of stock material is decreased by crimping the stripbetween each adjacent pair of articles. The crimps are formed at spacedintervals starting with the centermost portions of the strip andprogressing outwardly therefrom until a crimp is formed between eachadjacent article pair. Crimping is accomplished by an arrangement ofconcentric piston-rams which are sequentially moved to advance pairs offorming tools to crimp and decrease the length of the strip of stockmaterial.

17 Claims, 12 Drawing Figures PATENTEDHARZI 1912 sum 01 0F- 10 JA/VEA/TUE;

LU. m. EFL. DUI/N, JR.

\4 H. R'FIrEL/RN J U WE PAIENTEDHARZI I972 3,650,142

' SHEET UBUF 10 PATENTEUMRZI I972 SHEET [IQ 0F 10 PATENTEUHAR 21 I972SHEET GSUF 10 PATENTEU MR2] I972 SHEET OBUF 1O PAIENTEDMARm I972 SHEET09 0F 10 METHOD OF AND APPARATUS-F OR DECREASING THE SPACING BETWEENARTICLES BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION l. Field of the Invention Thisinvention relates to a method of and apparatus for sequentiallycorrugating articles and more particularly, to a method of and apparatusfor sequentially operating a series of concentrically positioned sleevesor piston-rams to successively drive a plurality of forming tools tocrimp portions of a deformable strip of stock material havinggang-formed articles depending therefrom.

2. Technical Considerations and Prior Art During various types ofmanufacturing processes, it often becomes necessary to deform a strip ofmaterial at a succession of spaced locations. In these instances it isnecessary to perform a succession of shape altering operations withoutintroducing deleterious stress concentrations which act to alter thedimensions of the fabricated, deformed strip.

For example, in the stamping of small gang die-formed articles, such asminiature electrical contacts, it is often desirable to bring arelatively large number of articles into close proximity to facilitatesubsequent handling thereof. This is particularly true, for example,when a large plurality of closely spaced miniature articles are to begang-inserted into closely spaced retaining cells in a preformedassembly housing.

In this regard, the invention has particular utility in the fabricationof miniature gang-formed electrical contacts which are suitable forinterconnecting successive lengths of telephone cable and which may beinserted into closely spaced cells in a miniature connector housing orblock.

Typically, contacts suitable for use with such miniature connectors maybe stamped from a strip of sheet stock so that a multiple of contactblanks are held by and depend transversely from backbone cross strips ofthe stock material. This is done to facilitate handling of the blanksduring subsequent manufacturing operations, such as shaping the blanksinto contacts having a predetermined configuration, or gold or tinplating the contacting surfaces of the contacts. Frequently, the shapeof the contact blanks or the punches and dies used to stamp the blanksfrom the stock material require that the initial spacing between thelongitudinal axes of the backbone-supported blanks be greater than theultimate spacing between the completed contacts prior to insertionthereof into the precisely spaced cells of a connector housing block.Therefore, prior to insertion, the spacing between the longitudinal axesof the completed backbone-supported contacts must be fore-shortened orreduced.

One technique for fore-shortening or reducingthe spacing between thecompleted contacts involves severing each contact from the backboneprior to individually inserting each contact into a spaced connectorcell. However, this technique has many disadvantages in that it istedious, time consuming, expensive, and subject to assembly errors. Italso results in an inordinate number of defective contact-connectorassemblies, due primarily to damage incurred by the tangling and mattingtogether of loose contacts during assembly.

Thus, it is apparent that, for economical mass production of miniaturecontact-connector assemblies, it would be advantageous if the spacingbetween the backbone-supported contacts could be reduced to correspondto the spacing between the precisely spaced cells of a connectorhousing, and the contacts inserted into the housing while they are stillsupported by the backbone strip. Such manifold or multiplex handlingwould necessarily obviate the problems inherent in individual contacthandling techniques and would greatly facilitate multiple contactfabrication, handling, and assembling.

Summary of the Invention The present invention contemplates new andimproved methods of and for successively operating a series of materialshaping tools to successively crimp a strip-like article. In oneapplication of the invention a method and an apparatus are provided forforeshortening or reducing the spacing between articles depending from abackbone strip of deformable stock material. More particularly, articleswhich may be electrical contacts, are moved in closer proximity to eachother by troughing or crimping a portion of the deformable backbonestrip between each adjacent contact. The crimps are formed at spacedintervals in the backbone strip starting at the centermost portionthereof and progressing outwardly therefrom until a crimp is formedbetween each adjacent contact pair. In order to insure that the contactsare spaced uniformly along the backbone strip, it is desirable that nounnecessary stresses be introduced which result in stretching of thebackbone during the bending or crimping operation.

An apparatus embodying the principles of the present invention forcrimping the backbone strip at predetermined spaced intervals comprisesa hydraulically operated, telescopically arranged plurality of sleevesor piston rams, one slidably nested inside the other, and each having atleast one material shaping element depending therefrom. Each ram isintegral with and secured to a piston located in a series of axiallyspaced chambers. Both the pistons and the piston rams act as plungersslidably moved by the application of hydraulic pressure so that thedependent material shaping elements are sequentially displaced towardthe backbone strip, starting with the element engageable with thecenterrnost portion of the strip and progressing outwardly therefromtoward the elements engageable with the outermost portions thereof. The

piston and piston rams are mounted for limited movement so that thematerial shaping elements lie in a plane parallel with the plane of theuncrimped backbone when the central piston and piston rams are fullydisplaced to crimp the strip.

Displacement of the central piston controls the subsequent flow ofhydraulic fluid to initiate the movement of the next succeeding piston,and this mode of operation is utilized to initiate the movement of theother pistons. It can be thus appreciated that the movement of the innerram is followed by successive movements of the other concentricallyarranged rams.

After the backbone strip is completely crimped and the electricalcontacts are thereupon moved a predetermined distance closer to eachother, the shaping elements are caused to retract successively inreverse order.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING The invention will be more fullyunderstood by reference to the following. detailed description ofembodiments thereof taken in conjunction with the drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view, with portions removed for the sake ofclarity, of a strip of deformable material having a plurality of spacedgang-formed electrical contact blanks depending therefrom, the spacingof which may be effectively decreased in accordance with the principlesof the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating the disposition of thesubsequently formed contacts relative to the backbone strip from whichsuch contacts depend and to a side strip which supports said backbonestrip;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating the relative decrease in thespacing between the contacts subsequent to the crimping of the backbonestrip in accordance with the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a front elevation of a strip material shaping apparatus abovea vertically movable die block having strip cutter knives and striphold-downs attached thereon;

FIG. -5 is a sectional view of a material shaping apparatus which mayeffectively corrugate a strip of stock material in accordance with theprinciples of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a schematic drawing of the hydraulic fluid system forcontrolling a series of concentrically positioned sleeves or piston ramshaving crimping tools thereon to sequentially crimp a deformable strip;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 4 illustratingthe manner in which a predetermined displacement of a piston drives thecentermost material shaping element into pressing engagement with thedeformable strip, and the manner in which said predetermineddisplacement uncovers a port of a conduit means to initiate movement ofthe nextadjacent material shaping element;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 4 illustratingthe disposition of the two innermost piston rams when the first andsecond pairs of material shaping elements are engaged with thedeformable strip, and the relative decrease in the spacing between thecontacts adjacent the portions of the strip deformed by said engagement;

FIG. 9 is a sectional view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 4 illustratingthe decreased spacing between each adjacent contact after all of thematerial shaping elements are advanced into pressing engagement with thestrip;

FIG. 10 is another schematic drawing of the hydraulic fluid system ofFIG. 6 showing various control valves in position to effectuate thewithdrawal of the concentrically positioned sleeves from contact withthe crimped strip;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view, particularly illustrating theconcentrically positioned sleeves or piston rams with the shapingelements attached on the ends thereof; and

FIG. 12 is a full cross-sectional view, taken along line 12- 12 of FIG.5 illustrating an annular clearance gap disposed between the piston rodand the innermost sleeve which gap is needed for sequential application.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Although the present invention may be employedwhenever a series of tools are to be sequentially operated, it hasparticular utility where portions of a strip or strand are to besuccessively crimped or whenever a plurality of articles which aresupported on a deformable strip of material are to be moved apredetermined distance closer to each other. The invention will bedescribed in one specific application where spacing is decreased betweenelectrical contacts depending from a backbone strip of stock material.

Referring now to the drawings, FIGS. 1-3 depict a plurality ofelectrical contacts 21 in various stages of completion. FIG.

I 1 depicts a strip of electrically conductive sheet stock materialhaving portions removed therefrom to define a plurality of spacedcontact blanks 22. The blanks 22 may be formed by various techniques butthey are typically gang-formed by a stamping operation so that eachblank is supported by and extended transversely from the backbone crossstrip 23. As illustrated, each backbone cross strip 23 may be supportedby continuous side strips 24 of stock material 20 which facilitatehandling and advancing the blanks 22 and the subsequently formedelectrical contacts 21.

FIG. 2 depicts a portion of a side strip 24 and a backbone cross strip23 having completely shaped electrical contacts 21 dependingorthogonally therefrom. It should be apparent that the spacing of thecontacts 21 is determined, at least in part, by the width of the blanks22 shown in FIG; 1 and the external dimensions of the forming punchesand the dies that are to be employed, and that the direction in whichthe contacts are made to depend from the backbone cross strips 23 andside strips 24 is determined by the subsequent fabricating and handlingoperations involved. For example, orthogonally depended contacts 21 asshown in FIG. 2 are advantageously oriented for subsequent platingoperations, as when the contacting surfaces of the contacts 21 aresubmerged into a suitable plating bath for gold or tin plating.

Following fabrication of the contacts 21, the backbone cross strip 23 ispositioned either manually or by automatic means between crimpingapparatus 26 (FIG. 4) and a die block 27. The die block 27 is providedwith oppositely disposed recesses 28-28 to accommodate holding pads 29-29 secured to headed bolts 31-31. The headed bolts 31-31 are slidablymounted in bores formed in seats 32-32 andextend into a second pair ofrecesses 33-33. A pair of compression springs 34-34 urge and support thepads 29-29 so that the top surfaces project above the top surface of thedie block 27. When the die block 27 is advanced by a piston ram 36,actuated by fluid supplied to a cylinder 37, the pads 29-29 engageopposed end sections of the backbone cross strip 23 to move the strip 23into engagement with a pair of rigid pads 38-38 extending from thehousing of the crimping apparatus 26.

A of shearing blades 39-39 are also secured to opposite sides of the dieblock 27. The tips of the blades 39-39 are positioned in lateralalignment with the top surfaces of the holding pads 29-29 so that whenthe die block 27 is advanced and the spring-urged pads 29-29 are holdingthe strip 23 against the pads 38-38, the blades move relative to thepads 29-29 and cooperate with shearing inserts 40-40 mounted in theedges of the rigid pads 38-38 to sever the ends of the backbone crossstrip 23 from the side strips 24- 24. The top surface of the block 27 isprovided with a plurality of die cavities 41 to receive sections of thebackbone cross strip 23 which are deformed by operation of the crimpingapparatus 26.

The removal of the side strips 24-24 is necessary prior to the crimpingoperation because the side strips are too stiff to move inwardly towardeach other when the crimps are subsequently made on the backbone strip23. When the side strips 24-24 are removed the strip 23 is ready forcrimping and the spacing between contacts 21-21 is decreased by crimpingor bending the backbone strips 23-23 between each adjacent contact 21.As illustrated in FIG. 3, the crimps or bends 42 are made by deformingthe backbone cross strip 23 transversely, perpendicular to the plane ofthe longitudinal axis of the pendant contacts 21-21.

Referring now to FIG. 5, there is shown an apparatus for performingsuccessive crimping operations, which includes a piston 43 mounted forto and fro sliding movement between an upper face 44 and a lower face 46of afirst cylinder cavity 47 in a cylinder block 48. The cylinder, block48 is provided with three cylinder cavities or chambers 47, 51, and 52intercommunicating through bores 53 and 54, the three chambers and thetwo bores being concentrically disposed about a common central axis intiered order. The thickness of the piston 43 is chosen so that when anupper face 56 of the piston 43 abuts the upper face 44 of the cylindercavity 47, a cylinder wall port 57 of a down-stroke fluid by-pass 58opening into a side wall 59 of the cylinder cavity 47, is closed by thepiston wall 61. At the same time, a cylinder face port 62 of anup-stroke fluid by-pass 63 in the lower face 46 of the first cylindercavity 47 is opened as is a cylinder wall exhaust-port 64 opening intothe cylinder wall 59 of the first cylinder cavity 47. When a lower face66 of the piston 43 abuts the lower face 46 of the cylinder cavity 47,the cylinder face port 62 of the fluid bypass 63 and the cylinder wallport 64 of the up-stroke fluid outlet 67 are covered thereby, while thecylinder wall port 57 of the down-stroke by-pass 58 is opened. Amaterial shaping ram 68 is rigidly secured to the piston 43 and isslidably-fitted through the first bore 53 to extend through the secondchamber 51, the second bore 54, and the third chamber 52. The ram 68also extends through a third bore 69. The ram 68 has an angularsteppedoffset 71 disposed at a predetermined distance from the end thereof todefine a neck portion 72 extending from the offset 71 to the end of theram 68. A pair of material shaping or crimping elements 73 extend fromthe neck portion 72 of the ram 68 and are fixedly mounted thereto sothat displacement of the piston 43 and the ram 68 is translated totheshaping elements 73. These shaping elements 73 are adapted to movewithin the complimentary die cavities 41 formed in a die block 27 tocrimp an interposed backbone strip 23.

The crimping apparatus illustrated in FIG. 5 also includes a pair oftelescopicallyarranged sleeves or hollow piston rams 74 and 76, havinglaterally projecting members in the form of piston heads 77 and 78,respectively, on one end thereof. The head 77 of the piston ram 74 ismounted for to and fro sliding movement between an upper face 79 and alower face 81 of the second chamber 51, while the piston ram 74 isslidably mounted on the ram 68 and in the second bore 54. The piston ram74 extends through the third chamber 52 and the third bore 69, and has afirst angular stepped offset 82 disposed at a predetermined distancefrom the end thereof to define an annular gap or clearance space 83 (seeFIG. 12) between the ram offset 71 and the piston ram offset 82. Thepiston ram 74 also has a second angular stepped offset 84 which,together with the first offset 82, define a necked-down piston ramportion 86 which slidably fits over the neck portion 72 of the ram 68. Apair of spaced material shaping or crimping elements 87 extend from theend of the neck-down portion 86 and are fixedly mounted thereto so thatdisplacement of the piston head 77 and the piston ram 74 is translatedto the shaping elements 87.

The thickness of the piston head 77 is chosen so that when the head 77engages the upper face 79 of the second chamber 51, a cylinder wall port88 of the down-stroke fluid by-pass 58 opening into cylinder wall 89 ofthe chamber is covered by the piston head 77, while a cylinder face port91 of the up-stroke fluid by-pass 63 and a cylinder wall port 92,opening into the bottom face 81, and cylinder wall 89, respectively, areuncovered. Also, when the piston head 77 engages the lower face 81 ofthe second chamber 51, the cylinder face port 91 of the up-stroke fluidby-pass 63 and the cylinder wall port 92 are covered, while the cylinderwall port 88 is uncovered.

The piston head 78 of piston ram 76 is mounted for to and fro slidingmovement between an upper face 93 and a lower face 94 of the thirdchamber 52, while the piston ram 76 is slidably mounted on the pistonram 74 and in the third bore 69, through which the piston ram 76extends. The piston ram 76 has an angular stepped offset 96 disposed ata predetermined distance from the end thereto to define an annular gapor clearance space 97 between the sleeve offsets 84 and 96; the gaps 83and 97 communicating through a bore or breather hole 98 extendingbetween the offsets 82 and 84. A pair of spaced material shaping orcrimping elements 99 extend from the end of the piston ram 76 and arefixedly mounted thereto so that displacement of the piston head 78 andthe piston ram 76 is translated to the shaping elements 99. Thethickness of the head 78 is chosen so that when the head 78 engages theupper face 93 of the chamber 52, a cylinder wall port 101 ofadown-stroke fluid outlet 102 opening into cylinder wall 103 of the thirdcylinder chamber 52 is covered by the head 78, while cylinder face port104 of an up-stroke fluid inlet 106 and a cylinder wall port 107 of theup-stroke fluid by-pass 63 opening into the lower face 94 and cylinderwall 103, respectively, are uncovered. Also, when the head 78 engagesthe lower face 94, the cylinder face port 104 and the cylinder wall port107 are covered, while the cylinder wall port 101 is uncovered.

As depicted by FIGS. 5, 7, 8, and 9 of the drawings, the compositecylinder block enclosing the respective rams, piston-heads, cylindercavities, fluid by-pass and inlet and outlet passageways comprises anassemblage of complimentary segments each having bores, slots, and/orgrooves formed therein. Upon tiering the segments and bolting themtogether in proper radial orientation and axial order, the said bores,slots, and/or grooves align in conformance with the configuration shown.It can be appreciated that with a multi-chambered cylinder built up of aplurality of tiered segments, a press attendant is enabled to readilyalter the size of the pistons, and the number and configuration of thechambers and passageways contained therein, simply by replacing with agreater or lesser number of preformed segments. As hereinafter set forthin detail, the facility to change the size of the pistons as well as thenumber and configuration of the chambers and passageways is ofsignificant value to vary the size, spacing, and depth of stroke of thepunches, as well as the number of them, to accommodate a wide variety ofpressforming operations and stamped parts in accordance with the presentinvention.

It should also be apparent hat the force applied to the deformable stripof stock material 20 disposed in the path of the shaping elements 73,87, and 99 is proportional to the effective surface areas of the piston43 and the piston heads 77 and 78, and to the pressure of the hydraulicfluid applied thereon. Accordingly, since it is desirable to avoidstretching of the deformable strip 20 while the crimps 42 are beingformed at spaced intervals along the length of the backbone cross strips23, and since the pressure of the hydraulic fluid is relatively easilymaintainable at a constant level, it is desirable that the piston 43,and piston heads 77, 78 have substantially the same effective surfacearea. However, regardless of the surface area of the piston 43 and theheads 77, 78, the danger of stretching the stock material 20 isminimized since, as most clearly depicted in FIG. 9, the lower face 46of the first chamber 47, and the lower faces 81, 94 of the second andthird chambers 51, 52, respectively, limit the path through which thepiston 43, and piston heads 77, 78 housed therein may be displaced, andare arranged to provide for planar alignment of the shaping elementswhen the piston 43 and heads 77 78 are fully advanced toward the stockmaterial 20.

In addition, it should be readily apparent that the present inventioncontemplates the use of more than two telescopically arranged pistonswhen the width of the backbone strip 23 and the number of contacts 21depending therefrom so dictate. Moreover, the present inventioncontemplates replacing the telescopically arranged piston rams with aplurality of adjacent, slidably arranged piston rams having materialshaping elements depending from one end thereof and an enlarged headprojecting transversely from the other end thereof.

OPERATION In accordance with the illustrated embodiment of theinvention, and, more particularly, as depicted showing various operativestages of the control system and the crimping apparatus in FIGS. 4 to10, a deformable backbone cross strip 23 have a plurality of electricalcontacts 21 depending at spaced intervals therefrom is corrugated toreduce the spacing between each adjacent contact by first advancing theside strips 24-24 to position the cross strip 23 on the die block 27.Referring to FIG. 4, the die block 27 and the strip 23 are raised byoperating the piston 36 and the air cylinder 37. When the cross strip 23contacts the stop pads 38-38 of the crimping apparatus 26, the strip 23is held in contact with the pads 38-38 by spring urged pads 29-29. Asthe die block 27 and blades 39-39 continue their upward motion, theblades 39-39 sever the side strips 24-24 from the cross strip 23. Thecross strip 23 is now held by the spring urged pads 29-29 against thestop pads 38-38 with enough firmness to insure that there will be nobowing" at the ends of the strip 23, but yet permitting the ends of thestrip to move inwardly toward the center of the strip during thecrimping operation. As depicted in FIG. 5, the piston 43 and the pistonheads 77 and 78 are disposed against the upper faces 44, 79, 93,respectively, of their respective chambers 47, 51, 52, due to the forceof the hydraulic fluid acting on the lower faces 66, 108, 109,respectively.

Attention is now directed to FIG. 6 which depicts a fluid system forcontrolling the operation of the crimping rams. The system includes afluid reservoir 111 from which a pump 112 withdraws fluid and forces thefluid, under pressure, to a pressurized fluid accumulator 114. When theaccumulator 114 is up to set pressure, it will no longer take the pumpdischarge and the pump discharge will pass through a relief valve 113back to the reservoir 111. From the accumulator 114, fluid passesthrough a second one-way pressure relief valve 116 to a pair of pistonvalves 117 and 118. The pump 112 is driven by an electric motor 119having an energizing circuit connected through an overloadpressure-operated switch 121.

A cycle of operation of the crimping apparatus is initiated byenergizing a control circuit (not shown) which, in turn, operates asolenoid 122 to shift a piston valve element 123 to the right as shownin FIG. 6. High pressure fluid thus passes through a line 124, throughthe valve 118, through a line 126, to the valve 117. A piston valveelement 127 shifts to the left to apply high pressure fluid from a line128, through the valve 117, over a line 129 to the down-stroke fluidinlet 132 and through the fluid inlet port 131 into the cylinder 48.Suitable flow controls 133-133 meter the flow rate of the fluid. Thehydraulic fluid initially contained in the cylinder 48 within theup-stroke fluid outlet 67 passes through the fluid outlet port 134 ofthe fluid outlet 67, through a line 136, through the valve 117, througha line 137, through a third one-way pressure relief valve 138 and intothe reservoir 111.

As shown in FIGS. 5, 7, the pressurized fluid is thus applied againstthe effective area of the upper face 56 of the piston 43 to overcome theforce of the hydraulic fluid acting against the smaller effective areaof the lower face 66 thereof so as to advance the piston 43 toward andagainst a lower face 46 of the first chamber 47. As the piston 43advances toward the lower face 46, four simultaneously occurring eventsare initiated; namely, (1) the hydraulic fluid, initially in the firstcylinder chamber 47, is forced out through the cylinder face port 62thence through the up-stroke fluid by-pass 63 thence through thecylinder wall port 92 and into the second cylinder chamber 51; (2) thematerial shaping elements 73, driven by the piston 43, are forced intocrimping engagement with the cross strip 23, forming crimps or bends42-42 therein and thereby causing the next adjacent contact 21 on eachside of the crimps to move a predetermined distance closer to eachother; (3) air and/or fluid vapor initially in the annular clearance 83is expelled to the atmosphere through breatherholes 98-98, thencethrough annular gap 97 and thence through breather-holes 100-100,thereby preventing an undesirable increase of pressure on the angularoffsets 82 and 96, and, consequently, a possible premature advance ofthe material shaping elements 87 and/or 99, in the event that saidpressure were left to increase sufficiently to counteract the force ofthe fluid meanwhile applied against the lower faces 108 and 109 of therespective piston heads 77 and 78; (4) as piston head 43 moves down,cylinder wall port 57 of the down-stroke by-pass 58 is uncovered,allowing hydraulic fluid to pass therethrough and thence into the secondcylinder chamber 51, exerting pressure on piston head 77.

As illustrated in FIG. 8, the piston head 77 is thus forced toward andagainst the lower face 81 of the second chamber 51, whereby four similarsimultaneously occurring events are initiated; namely, (5) the hydraulicfluid initially in the second cylinder chamber 51 is forced out throughthe cylinder face port 91, thence through the up-stroke fluid by-pass63, thence through the cylinder wall port 107 and into the thirdcylinder chamber 52; (6) the material shaping elements 87-87, driven bythe piston 77, are forced into crimping engagement with the cross strip23 at points along the length thereof to either side of the previouslyformed crimps, forming two additional bends or crimps 42-42 therein, andthereby causing the next adjacent contacts 21-21 on each side of thelast-formed crimps to move a predetermined distance closer to eachother, that is, closer to the center portion of the cross strip 23; (7)air and/0r fluid vapor initially in the annular clearance 97 is expelledto the atmosphere through the breather-holes .100- 100, therebypreventing an undesirable increase of pressure on the angular offset 96,and, consequently, a possible premature advance of material shapingelements 99, in the event that said pressure were left to increasesufficiently to counteract the force of the fluid meanwhile appliedagainst the lower face 109 of the piston head 78; (8) as piston head 77moves down cylinder wall port 88 of the down-stroke by-pass 58 isuncovered, allowing the hydraulic fluid to pass therethrough and thenceinto the third cylinder chamber 52, exerting pressure on piston head 78.

As illustrated in FIG. 9, the piston head 78 is thus forced toward andagainst the lower face 94 of the third chamber 52, whereby fouradditional simultaneously occurring events are initiated; namely, (9)the hydraulic fluid initially in the third chamber 52 is forced outthrough the cylinder face port 104 thence through the up-stroke fluidinlet 106, and thence, as illustrated in FIG. 6, through conduit 139,thence through valve 117, thence through conduits 141, 142, and 137, andto relief valve 138 which opens momentarily under the increased, nowexcess, pressure of the fluid from chamber 52, allowing the fluidexpelled therefrom to pass through the valve 138 and from thence, toreturn to the reservoir 111. It should here be noted that each timefluid is expelled from chamber 47, 51, or 52 in this phase of theoperating cycle, the increased pressure is transmitted through theup-stroke fluid passageways causing relief valve 138 to open long enoughto discharge to the reservoir 111 that specific volume of the hydraulicfluid expelled, and no more; (10) the material shaping elements 99-99,driven by the piston 78, are forced into crimping engagement with thecross strip 23 at points along the length thereof to either side of thepreviously formed crimps, forming two additional bends or crimps 42-42therein, and thereby causing the next adjacent contacts 21-21 on eachside of the last formed crimps to move a predetermined distance closerto each other, that is, closer to the center portion of the cross strip23; l l the space in the annular clearance 97, now being initially atits minimum as shown in FIG. 8, increases to its maximum, as shown inFIG. 9. The added volume of air needed to fill the space thus increasedis drawn in through breather-holes 100-100 from the atmosphere, thuspreventing an undesirable reduction of pressure on the angular offset96, and, consequently, a possible retardation of the advance of thematerial shaping elements 99, in the event that a vacuum were to developin clearance space 97 sufficient to partially counteract the force ofthe fluid on the upper face of piston head 78; (12) as piston head 78moves down, cylinder wall port 101 of the down-stroke fluid outlet 102is uncovered, thereby increasing the holding pressure of the hydraulicfluid in lines 102 and 154 to operating pressure, up to the closed portofvalve 117.

It should be appreciated that the material shaping elements 73-73 remainin engagement with the cross strip 23, while the next successivecrimping elements 87-87 are forced into engagement therewith to maintainthe relative positions of the now formed crimps, and the contacts thathave been moved closer to each other. Likewise, elements 73 and 87remain in engagement with the cross strip 23 while the shaping elements99-99 are brought into engagement therewith. It should also beappreciated, referring to FIG. 11, that when the piston rams 68, 74, and76 are axially displaced, radial displacement of these rams 68, 74, 76is prevented by flat-faced extensions on the lower ends of the rams 68,74, and 76 which slide snugly within a rectangular opening 143 in apunch guide 144 made integral with the lower segment of the cylinderblock 48.

After the material shaping elements 73, 87, and 99 have engaged andcrimped the cross strip 23, and have thereby decreased the spacingbetween the adjacent depending contacts 21, the material shapingelements 73, 87, and 99 are retracted from the now crimped cross strip23 in the reverse order. To restore the crimping apparatus to theinitial retracted position, the control circuit (not shown) is againenergized to actuate a solenoid 148 which functions to shift the valveelement 123 to the left as shown in H6. 10. In this instance, operatingpressure fluid from line 124 is impressed through valve 118, thencethrough line 149 upon the lefthand portion of the valve 117. The valvecontrol element 127 shifts to the right as shown in FIG. 10 to applyhigh pressure fluid from the line 124 through a line 151, through thevalve 117, through a line 152, through the line 139, through theupstroke fluid inlet 106, and through the cylinder face port 104 intocylinder chamber 52. The hydraulic fluid pressure in the down-strokefluid outlet 102, line 154, valve 117, lines 141, 142, and 137 isreduced from operating to holding pressure by relief valve 138, thesurplus fluid passing to reservoir 111.

As shown in FIG. 9, the force of the fluid is applied against theeffective area of the lower face 109 of the piston head 78 to retractthe head 78 away from the lower face 94 of the third chamber 52,provided the hydraulic fluid pressure residual in the chamber 52 abovethe upper face 110 of the piston head 78 is relieved enough so that thetotal effective pressure against the lower face 109 of the piston head78 is greater than the total effective pressure on the upper face 110.Since the effective piston head area of the lower face 109 of the pistonhead 78 is much less than the effective piston head area of the upperface 110, the unit pressure on the lower face 109 must be considerablyhigher than the unit pressure on the upper face 110 ofthe piston head78.

Referring to FIG. 8, as the piston head 78 advances toward the upperface 93 of the chamber 52, four simultaneously occurring events areinitiated; namely, (13) most of the hydraulic fluid contained in theupper part of the chamber 52 is expelled and passed through a cylinderface port 157, downstroke fluid by-pass 58, fluid inlet port 131,down-stroke fluid inlet 132, lines 129, 156, valve 117, lines 142, 137,to relief valve 138, which opens momentarily under the increased, nowexcess, pressure of the fluid from chamber 52, allowing the fluidexpelled therefrom to pass through valve 138 and from thence, to returnto the reservoir 111 (FIG. 14) since the relief valve 138 relieves atholding pressure which is much lower than the operating pressure nowpresent in lines 139 and 106, the piston head 78 rises to retract thematerial shaping elements 99-99, driven by the piston 78, from the crossstrip 23; (15) air and/or fluid vapor initially in the annular clearance97 is expelled to the atmosphere through the breather-holes 100-100,thereby preventing an undesirable increase of pressure on the angularoffsets 84 and 71, and, consequently, a possible premature retraction ofmaterial shaping elements 87 and/or 73 in the event that said pressurewere left to increase sufficiently to counteract the force of the fluidmeanwhile applied against the upper faces 55, 56 of the pistons 77,43;(16) as piston head 78 moves up, cylinder wall port 107 of the up-strokeby-pass 63 is uncovered, allowing hydraulic fluid to pass therethroughand thence into the second cylinder chamber 51, exerting pressureagainst the lower face 108 of the piston head 77. Referring to FIG. 7,the piston head 77 is thus forced toward and against the upper face 79of the second chamber 51, whereby four similar simultaneously occurringevents are initiated; namely, (17) most of the hydraulic fluid containedin the upper part of chamber 51 is expelled and passed through acylinder face port 158, downstroke fluid by-pass 58, fluid inlet port131, dowmstroke fluid inlet 132, lines 129, 156, valve 117, lines 142,137, to relief valve 138 which opens momentarily under the increased,now excess, pressure of the fluid from chamber 51, allowing the fluidexpelled therefrom to pass through the valve 138, and from thence toreturn to the reservoir 111 (FIG. l0); (18) the material shapingelements 87-87, driven by the piston 77, are retracted from the crossstrip 23; (19) air and/or fluid vapor initially in the annular clearance83 is expelled to theatmosphere through breather-holes 98-98, thencethrough annular gap 97 and thence through breather-holes 100-100 therebypreventing an undesirable increase of pressure on the angular off-set71, and, consequently, a possible premature retraction of materialshaping elements 73-73 in the event that said pressure were left toincrease sufficiently to counteract the force of the fluid meanwhileapplied against the upper face 56 of the piston 43; (20) as the pistonhead 77 moves up, cylinder wall port 92 of the up-stroke by-pass 63 isuncovered, allowing the hydraulic fluid to pass therethrough and thenceinto the first cylinder chamber 47, exerting pressure on the lower face66 of the piston 43.

As illustrated in FIG. 7, the piston 43 is thus forced toward andagainst the upper face 44 of the first chamber 47, whereby fouradditional simultaneously occurring events are initiated; namely, (21)most of the hydraulic fluid contained in the upper part of the chamber47 is expelled and passed through fluid inlet port 131, down-strokefluid inlet 132, lines 129, 156, valve 117, lines 142, 137, to reliefvalve 138, which opens momentarily under the increased, now excess,pressure of the fluid from chamber 47, allowing the fluid expelledtherefrom to pass through the valve 138 and from thence, to return toreservoir 111 (FIG. 10). It should be noted that each time fluid isexpelled from chambers 47, 51, or 52 in this phase of the operatingcycle, the increased pressure is transmitted through the down-strokefluid passageway causing relief valve 138 to open long enough todischarge to the reservoir 111 that specific volume of the hydraulicfluid expelled, and no more; (22) the material shaping elements 73-73,driven by the piston 43, are retracted from the cross strip 23; (23)thespace in the annular clearance 83, being now initially at its minimumas shown in FIG. 7, increases to its maximum as shown in FIG. 5. Theadded volume of air needed to fill the space thus increased is drawn inthrough breather-holes -100 from the atmosphere, thence breather-holes98-98, thus preventing an undesirable reduction of pressure on theangular offset 71, and, consequently, a possible retardation of theretraction of the material elements 73-73, in the event that a vacuumwere to develop in clearance space 83 sufficient to partially counteractthe forces of the fluid on the lower face 66 of the piston 43; (24) aspiston 43 moves up, cylinder wall exhaust port 64 of the up-stroke fluidoutlet 67 is uncovered, thereby increasing the holding pressure of thehydraulic fluid in lines 67 and 136 to operating pressure, up to theclosed part of valve 117 (FIG. 10).

It is to be understood that the above-described embodiment is simplyillustrative of the principles of the invention. Thus although theinvention has been described in connection with a method of and aparticular apparatus for decreasing the spacing between electricalcontacts which depend at spaced intervals from a deformable cross strip,it is to be understood that the principles thereof may be employed incarrying out other fabricating processes such as punching, cutting,scoring, etc., which require only different fabricating tools from thoseof the embodiment described.

What is claimed is:

1. In an apparatus for sequentially moving a series of tools into workfabricating relation with a work piece;

a plurality of rams concentrically mounted about a common axis;

work fabricating tools individually mounted on first ends of said rams;

means for moving a first one of the pluralityof rams to advance the toolassociated with the first one of the plurality of rams into workfabricating relation with the work piece; and

means responsive to the movement of said first one of the rams through apredetermined distance for sequentially moving each successive ram tosuccessively advance the tools into work fabricating relation with thework piece.

2. In an apparatus for sequentially advancing a series of tools intoengagement with a work piece;

a plurality of rams concentrically mounted about a common axis;

means for mounting a pair of tools in diametrically opposed sections onthe ends of each of said rams;

means for moving a first one of the plurality of rarns to advance thetool associated with the first one of the plurality of rams into workfabricating relation with the work piece; and

means responsive to the movement of said first one of the rams through apredetermined distance for sequentially moving the center then eachsuccessive outer ram to advance each pair of tools into engagement withthe work piece.

3. A material shaping apparatus, which comprises:

a piston having an enlarged head and an elongated material shaping ramextending therefrom;

a piston-ram slidably fitted over said elongated ram, said piston-ramhaving a flange on one end thereof and an annular material shaping sternon the other end thereof;

a housing comprising:

a first chamber having said enlarged head slidably mounted therein;

a second chamber having said flange slidably mounted therein; a firstbore interconnecting said first and second chambers for receiving saidelongated ram; and

movement between a third and a fourth position within said secondchamber, said piston-ram having a material shaping stem extendingtherefrom and through said second bore;

a housing having a plurality of chambers arranged therein for slidablyreceiving said telescopically arranged sleeves and piston, the faces ofsaid chambers defining first and second limit position between whichsaid piston and said a second bore terminating at one end thereof atsaid flanges aid leeves may be slidably displaced;

second hamber, a d t the other end the eof at a fluid passage meansinterconnecting each of said chambers, face of said housing, said secondbore having said annuand terminating as P0115 in each of Said chambers,Said lar stem slidably mounted therein; ports of said fluid passagemeans in each of the respective means for advancing said piston and saidmaterial shaping l 0 Chambers being Covered by Said fl nge n Said pistonram; and housed therein when said flanges and said piston are meansrendered effective upon a predetermined displacedisposed at said firstlimit Posifion, and Uncovered n ment of said piston in said firstchamber for advancing said flanges and Piston are disposed at saidsecond limit said flanged piston-ram and said material shaping stem.Position; 4, A i l h i apparatus, hi h i 15 means for passing apressurized fluid onto said piston to a housing having a first chamber,a second chamber, a first sequentially advance Said p o I i Second limitbore communicating said first and second chambers, and Position uncoversaid P of said fluid Passage means a second bore communicating saidsecond chamber with Opening in said Piston housing chamber, P said aSurface f id h i pressurized fluid through the now uncovered port ofsaid a piston mounted for movement between a first and second fluid P gmeans and Onto the flange efsaid innermost position within said firstchamber, said piston having a sleeve, to advance said flange and uncoverthe material shaping ram extending therefrom and through eeeding P ofsaid fluid Passage means and P said first bore, said second chamber, andsaid second a fluid through each successively uncovered P of bore; saidfluid passage means until all of said sleeves and said a flangedpiston-ram slidably mounted on said ram for material shaping elementsthereon have been sequentially advanced, starting with the shapingelement on the next innermost sleeve and progressing outwardly towardthe shaping element on the outermost sleeve.

8. An apparatus as defined in claim 7 having facilities for returningsaid telescopically arranged sleeves and piston from said second limitpositions to said first positions, which includes:

second fluid passage means interconnecting each of said chambers andterminating as ports in each of said chambers, said ports of said fluidpassage means in each of the respective chambers being covered by saidflanges and said piston housed therein when said flanges and piston aredisposed at said second limit position, and uncovered when said flangesand piston are disposed at said first fluid passage means extendingbetween said first and second chamber, terminating in the first chamberas a port, said port of said first fluid passage means being covered bysaid piston when said piston is disposed at said first position, anduncovered when said piston is disposed at said second position; and

means for applying a pressurized fluid against said piston disposed atsaid first position to sequentially 1) advance said piston and saidmaterial shaping ram to uncover said pass said pressurized fluid throughsaid port of said second fluid passage means and against said piston,and (3) retract said piston and said material shaping ram.

6. A material shaping apparatus as defined in claim 4,

port of said first fluid passage means, (2) pass said presmt ositiow andsurized fluid through said port of said fluid passage means p means forpassing a second pressurized fluid onto the outerand onto said flangedisposed at said third position in said mos flange disposed at saidsecond limit position to a r i gf tigf gg g s g z sequentially (1)return said outermost flange to said first 2: gg g limit position anduncover said port of said second fluid p p passage means opening in theoutermost flange receiving fft Shapmg app'fuatils as m claim i hav'chamber, (2) pass said second pressurized fluid through mg facilitiesfor returning said piston and said flanged pistonthe now uncovered portf id second fluid passage ram to said first and third positions,respectively, which rnm e a ns and onto the next outermost flange'toremm Said dudes next outermost flange and uncover the next succeedingsecond fluid passage means extending between said first and port of Saidfluid passaga means and 3) pass Said second second F terfmnatmg m hSecond chamber a fluid through each successively uncovered port of saidport port of f seconfj fl uld passage second fluid passage means untilall of said flanges and {ncovered when Sam flange imposed Sald saidpiston have been sequentially returned to said first tron and covered bysaid flange when said flange IS at said limit position fourth Poslmmfand 9. A material shaping apparatus, which comprises: meens for PP X apressurlzed against San flange a first piston ram having a firstmaterial shaping element on disposed at said fourth position tosequentially l) retract one end thereof and a piston head pr-ojectingtransversely said material shaping stem and said flanged piston-ram, tof he other end h f; uncover said P of said seeend fluid Passage means(2) 0 a second piston rarn slidably mounted on said first ram, saidsecond ram having a second material shaping element on one end thereofand a second piston head projecting transversely from the other endthereof;

a third piston ram slidably mounted on said second ram,

said third ram having a third material shaping element on one endthereof and a third piston head projecting transversely from the otherend thereof;

a block having aligned interconnected chambers therein for slidablyreceiving said first, second, and third piston heads, the faces of saidchambers limiting the movement of said heads between upper and lowerlimit positions;

said block having a first passageway interconnecting said first andsecond head receiving chambers, said first passageway terminating in afirst port thereof in a wall of said first shoulder receiving chamber ata position wherein said first and second positions are defined by the 65 upper and lower faces of said first chamber, respectively, and whereinsaid third and fourth positions are defined by the upper and lower facesof said second chamber.

7. A material shaping apparatus, which comprises: a plurality oftelescopically arranged sleeves, one nested inside another. each havinga flange on one end thereof and a material shaping element on the otherend; a piston having a ram slidably mounted within the innermost sleeveand having a material shaping element on one end thereof;

covered by said first head disposed at said upper limit position, anduncovered when said first head is disposed at said lower limit position,and in a second port thereof in the upper face of said second headreceiving chamber; said block having a second passageway interconnectingsaid second and third head receiving chambers, said second passagewayterminating in a first port thereof in a wall of said second headreceiving chamber at a position covered by said second head disposed atsaid upper limit position, and uncovered when said first head isdisposed at said lower limit position, and in a second port thereof inthe upper face of said third head receiving chamber; and means forpassing a pressurized fluid on said first piston head, disposed at saidupper position, to sequentially 1) advance said first ram and materialshaping element thereon to said lower position to uncover said firstport of said first passageway, (2) pass said pressurized fluid throughsaid first port of said first passageway and onto said second pistonhead disposed at said upper position to advance said second ram andmaterial shaping element thereon to said lower position and to uncoversaid first port of said second passageway, and (3) pass said pressurizedfluid through said first port of said second passageway and onto saidthird piston head, to advance said third ram and the material shapingelement thereon.

10. A motion transmitting apparatus which comprises:

a first piston and projecting ram;

a plurality of second pistons and piston-rams disposed concentricallyabout the first ram, the second piston and piston-ram adjacent the firstram being slidably mounted onthe first ram, each succeeding secondpiston-ram being slidably mounted on each preceding second pistonram,and each succeeding second piston being axially spaced from said firstpiston and slidably mounted on each preceding second piston-ram;

a block having a plurality of chambers for receiving said first andsecond pistons;

means for applying a pressurized fluid to the first piston receivingchamber to initiate movement of said first piston; and

means rendered effective upon a predetermined displacement of said firstpiston for initiating sequential displacement of each succeeding secondpiston, the displacement of each succeeding second piston beinginitiated by a predetermined displacement of the immediately precedingsecond piston.

11. In a motion transmitting apparatus:

a plurality of pistons concentrically mounted about a common axis foraxial movement along said axis and relative to each other;

means for applying fluid to move one piston relative to the others, and

means responsive to a predetermined movement of said moving piston forinitiating motion to the next adjacent piston, each of the pistons beingarrested following the movement thereof and during the movement of theother pistons.

12. A motion transmitting apparatus as defined in claim 11 wherein saidpistons comprise piston heads and piston rams, said piston heads beingaxially spaced from each other and said piston rams being concentricallymounted about a center ram, and

said pistons have equal cross-sectional working faces against which thefluid is applied.

13. An apparatus for decreasing the distance between articles dependingfrom a deformable strip of stock material, which comprises:

a block having a first chamber, a second chamber, a first boreinterconnecting said first and second chambers, a third chamber, asecond bore interconnecting said second and third chambers, and a thirdbore communicating said third chamber with a surface of said block;

a piston slidably mounted in said first chamber;

a'ram mounted to and extending from said piston, said ram passingthrough said second and third chambers, and through said first, second,and third bores, said ram having a first angular-stepped offset;

a first material shaping element positioned on the end of said ram;

a first sleeve slidably fitted over said ram and extending from saidsecond chamber through said second bore, said third chamber, and saidthird bore, said first sleeve having a first peripheral flange slidablymounted in said second chamber and a second angular-stepped offsetspaced from said first offset to provide a first gap therebetween;

a second material shaping element on the end of said first sleeve;

a second sleeve slidably fitted over said first sleeve and extendingfrom said third chamber through said third bore, said second sleevehaving a second peripheral flange slidably mounted in said third chamberand a third angular-stepped ofiset spaced from said second offset toprovide a second gap;

a third material shaping element on the end of said second sleeve;

said second offset having a bore interconnecting said first and secondgaps;

first fluid passage means between said first and second chambersterminating in the first chamber as a port, said first fluid passagemeans being covered by said piston when said piston is disposed at afirst position, and uncovered-when said piston is disposed at a secondposition;

second fluid passage means between said second and third chambers,terminating the second chamber as a port, said second fluid passagemeans being covered by said first peripheral flange when said firstflange is disposed at a third position, and uncovered when said firstflange is disposed at a fourth position; and

means for applying pressurized fluid to said piston to advance saidpiston and said first material shaping element, and to sequentially l)uncover said port of said first fluid passage means, (2) pass saidpressurized fluid through said port of said first fluid passage meansand onto said first flange disposed at said third position in saidsecond chamber, (3) advance said first sleeve to said fourth position touncover said port of said second fluid passage means and to advance saidsecond material shaping element, and (4) pass said pressurized fluidthrough said port of second fluid passage means and onto said secondflange to advance said second sleeve and said third material shapingelement.

14. An apparatus as defined in claim 13 wherein the bottom face of saidfirst chamber engages said piston disposed at said second position tolimit the displacement thereof,

wherein the bottom face of said second chamber engages said first flangedisposed at said fourth position to limit the displacement thereof, and

wherein the bottom face of said third chamber engages said second flangeto limit the displacement thereof.

15. In a material shaping apparatus;

a block having a first chamber, a second chamber, a first boreinterconnecting said first and second chambers and a second boreextending from said second chamber to the surface of said block;

a first piston slidably positioned within said first chamber and havinga first material shaping ram extending through said first bore, saidsecond chamber and said second bore;

a second piston slidably mounted on said first ram, slidably mounted insaid second chamber, and having a second material shaping ram extendingthrough said second bore;

means for applying pressurized fluid to said first'piston to move saidfirst piston and said first material shaping ram; and

fluid passage means in said block uncovered by a predetermined movementof said first piston for passing pressurized fluid from the firstchamber to said second chamber to move said second piston and saidsecond material shapingram.

16. A process for decreasing the distance between adjacent articlesdepending from a deformable strip which comprises:

, of articles, wherein the articles are supported by and extend in e aparallel, spaced array from a deformable strip of stock material, whichmethod comprises:

mounting a plurality of work tools concentrically about a mounting aplurality of work tools concentrically about a 5 common i C mm aXlS;moving a first one of the work tools through a predeterpl P fordefQfmallon between adlacem mined distance into work fabricatingrelation with the pcfldmg amcles and for anal movgmem of the ends of thestrip to apply a predetermined localized force transversej p toward eachother; ly to the deformable strip and at a centermost portion f"! a fiof the Work 9 through a P 'f 10 thereof to crimp said strip, withoutstretching the material ""P dlstance f fabncatmg; the thereof, todecrease the distance between the articles on smp detsorm the betweenadlacem articles at a either side of said centermost portion and todecrease the center oi-non thereof without stretching the strip, and tdistance between said centermost portion of said strip mone theartieilee on either sideof tjte deformation into a and the peripheralportions thereof; and tha" g' c a aq an t th d fth moving successiveonesof the work tools into work fabricati z 295:" o i ig e a ST: 3 ingrelation with the strip to sequentially apply predeterone o e Y 00 mug epm rmme mined localized forces transversely to said strip at distance,successive ones of the work tools into work equidistant positions oneither side of said centermost fabricating relation with the strip tosequentially deform onion and between articles at to ressivel rem" thestrip, without stretching the material thereof, between gistances fromsaid centermost z to fumes the next adjacent articles on each side ofthe preceding f t l th p t l deformations, starting from the centerportion of the strip g s l i re mg w ma and progressing outwardlytherefrom until each dependereo an d f y e F es d' at Progwsfwe ingarticle is moved into a predetermined closer proximity i :f 1 cemgrmostPorno a with each adjacent depending article. pre ete'mme stance c osencrew l7 A method of decreasing the distance between a plurality

1. In an apparatus for sequentially moving a series of tools into workfabricating relation with a work piece; a plurality of ramsconcentrically mounted about a common axis; work fabricating toolsindividually mounted on first ends of said rams; means for moving afirst one of the plurality of rams to advance the tool associated withthe first one of the plurality of rams into work fabricating relationwith the work piece; and means responsive to the movement of said firstone of the rams through a predetermined distance for sequentially movingeach successive ram to successively advance the tools into workfabricating relation with the work piece.
 2. In an apparatus forsequentially advancing a series of tools into engagement with a workpiece; a plurality of rams concentrically mounted about a common axis;means for mounting a pair of tools in diametrically opposed sections onthe ends of each of said rams; means for moving a first one of theplurality of rams to advance the tool associated with the first one ofthe plurality of rams into work fabricating relation with the workpiece; and means responsive to the movement of said first one of therams through a predetermined distance for sequentially moving the centerthen each successive outer ram to advance each pair of tools intoengagement with the work piece.
 3. A material shaping apparatus, whichcomprises: a piston having an enlarged head and an elongated materialshaping ram extending therefrom; a piston-ram slidably fitted over saidelongated ram, said piston-ram having a flange on one end thereof and anannular material shaping stem on the other end thereof; a housingcomprising: a first chamber having said enlarged head slidably mountedtherein; a second chamber having said flange slidably mounted therein; afirst bore interconnecting said first and second chambers for receivingsaid elongated ram; and a second bore terminating at one end thereof atsaid second chamber, and at the other end thereof at a surface of saidhousing, said second bore having said annular stem slidably mountedtherein; means for advancing said piston and said materIal shaping ram;and means rendered effective upon a predetermined displacement of saidpiston in said first chamber for advancing said flanged piston-ram andsaid material shaping stem.
 4. A material shaping apparatus, whichcomprises: a housing having a first chamber, a second chamber, a firstbore communicating said first and second chambers, and a second borecommunicating said second chamber with a surface of said housing; apiston mounted for movement between a first and second position withinsaid first chamber, said piston having a material shaping ram extendingtherefrom and through said first bore, said second chamber, and saidsecond bore; a flanged piston-ram slidably mounted on said ram formovement between a third and a fourth position within said secondchamber, said piston-ram having a material shaping stem extendingtherefrom and through said second bore; fluid passage means extendingbetween said first and second chamber, terminating in the first chamberas a port, said port of said first fluid passage means being covered bysaid piston when said piston is disposed at said first position, anduncovered when said piston is disposed at said second position; andmeans for applying a pressurized fluid against said piston disposed atsaid first position to sequentially (1) advance said piston and saidmaterial shaping ram to uncover said port of said first fluid passagemeans, (2) pass said pressurized fluid through said port of said fluidpassage means and onto said flange disposed at said third position insaid second chamber, and (3) advance said flanged piston ram and saidmaterial shaping stem until said flange is disposed at said fourthposition.
 5. A material shaping apparatus as defined in claim 4, havingfacilities for returning said piston and said flanged piston-ram to saidfirst and third positions, respectively, which includes: second fluidpassage means extending between said first and second chamber,terminating in the second chamber as a port, said port of said secondfluid passage means being uncovered when said flange is disposed at saidthird position and covered by said flange when said flange is at saidfourth position; and means for applying a pressurized fluid against saidflange disposed at said fourth position to sequentially (1) retract saidmaterial shaping stem and said flanged piston-ram, to uncover said portof said second fluid passage means, (2) pass said pressurized fluidthrough said port of said second fluid passage means and against saidpiston, and (3) retract said piston and said material shaping ram.
 6. Amaterial shaping apparatus as defined in claim 4, wherein said first andsecond positions are defined by the upper and lower faces of said firstchamber, respectively, and wherein said third and fourth positions aredefined by the upper and lower faces of said second chamber.
 7. Amaterial shaping apparatus, which comprises: a plurality oftelescopically arranged sleeves, one nested inside another, each havinga flange on one end thereof and a material shaping element on the otherend; a piston having a ram slidably mounted within the innermost sleeveand having a material shaping element on one end thereof; a housinghaving a plurality of chambers arranged therein for slidably receivingsaid telescopically arranged sleeves and piston, the faces of saidchambers defining first and second limit position between which saidpiston and said flanges of said sleeves may be slidably displaced; fluidpassage means interconnecting each of said chambers, and terminating asports in each of said chambers, said ports of said fluid passage meansin each of the respective chambers being covered by said flanges andsaid piston housed therein when said flanges and said piston aredisposed at said first limit position, and uncovered when said flangesand piston are disposed at said second limit position; and means forpassing a Pressurized fluid onto said piston to sequentially (1) advancesaid piston to said second limit position to uncover said port of saidfluid passage means opening in said piston housing chamber, (2) passsaid pressurized fluid through the now uncovered port of said fluidpassage means and onto the flange of said innermost sleeve, to advancesaid flange and uncover the next succeeding port of said fluid passagemeans, and (3) pass said fluid through each successively uncovered portof said fluid passage means until all of said sleeves and said materialshaping elements thereon have been sequentially advanced, starting withthe shaping element on the next innermost sleeve and progressingoutwardly toward the shaping element on the outermost sleeve.
 8. Anapparatus as defined in claim 7 having facilities for returning saidtelescopically arranged sleeves and piston from said second limitpositions to said first positions, which includes: second fluid passagemeans interconnecting each of said chambers and terminating as ports ineach of said chambers, said ports of said fluid passage means in each ofthe respective chambers being covered by said flanges and said pistonhoused therein when said flanges and piston are disposed at said secondlimit position, and uncovered when said flanges and piston are disposedat said first limit position; and means for passing a second pressurizedfluid onto the outermost flange disposed at said second limit positionto sequentially (1) return said outermost flange to said first limitposition and uncover said port of said second fluid passage meansopening in the outermost flange receiving chamber, (2) pass said secondpressurized fluid through the now uncovered port of said second fluidpassage means and onto the next outermost flange to return said nextoutermost flange and uncover the next succeeding port of said fluidpassage means, and (3) pass said second fluid through each successivelyuncovered port of said second fluid passage means until all of saidflanges and said piston have been sequentially returned to said firstlimit position.
 9. A material shaping apparatus, which comprises: afirst piston ram having a first material shaping element on one endthereof and a piston head projecting transversely from the other endthereof; a second piston ram slidably mounted on said first ram, saidsecond ram having a second material shaping element on one end thereofand a second piston head projecting transversely from the other endthereof; a third piston ram slidably mounted on said second ram, saidthird ram having a third material shaping element on one end thereof anda third piston head projecting transversely from the other end thereof;a block having aligned interconnected chambers therein for slidablyreceiving said first, second, and third piston heads, the faces of saidchambers limiting the movement of said heads between upper and lowerlimit positions; said block having a first passageway interconnectingsaid first and second head receiving chambers, said first passagewayterminating in a first port thereof in a wall of said first shoulderreceiving chamber at a position covered by said first head disposed atsaid upper limit position, and uncovered when said first head isdisposed at said lower limit position, and in a second port thereof inthe upper face of said second head receiving chamber; said block havinga second passageway interconnecting said second and third head receivingchambers, said second passageway terminating in a first port thereof ina wall of said second head receiving chamber at a position covered bysaid second head disposed at said upper limit position, and uncoveredwhen said first head is disposed at said lower limit position, and in asecond port thereof in the upper face of said third head receivingchamber; and means for passing a pressurized fluid on said first pistonhead, disposed at said upper position, to seqUentially (1) advance saidfirst ram and material shaping element thereon to said lower position touncover said first port of said first passageway, (2) pass saidpressurized fluid through said first port of said first passageway andonto said second piston head disposed at said upper position to advancesaid second ram and material shaping element thereon to said lowerposition and to uncover said first port of said second passageway, and(3) pass said pressurized fluid through said first port of said secondpassageway and onto said third piston head, to advance said third ramand the material shaping element thereon.
 10. A motion transmittingapparatus which comprises: a first piston and projecting ram; aplurality of second pistons and piston-rams disposed concentricallyabout the first ram, the second piston and piston-ram adjacent the firstram being slidably mounted on the first ram, each succeeding secondpiston-ram being slidably mounted on each preceding second piston-ram,and each succeeding second piston being axially spaced from said firstpiston and slidably mounted on each preceding second piston-ram; a blockhaving a plurality of chambers for receiving said first and secondpistons; means for applying a pressurized fluid to the first pistonreceiving chamber to initiate movement of said first piston; and meansrendered effective upon a predetermined displacement of said firstpiston for initiating sequential displacement of each succeeding secondpiston, the displacement of each succeeding second piston beinginitiated by a predetermined displacement of the immediately precedingsecond piston.
 11. In a motion transmitting apparatus: a plurality ofpistons concentrically mounted about a common axis for axial movementalong said axis and relative to each other; means for applying fluid tomove one piston relative to the others, and means responsive to apredetermined movement of said moving piston for initiating motion tothe next adjacent piston, each of the pistons being arrested followingthe movement thereof and during the movement of the other pistons.
 12. Amotion transmitting apparatus as defined in claim 11 wherein saidpistons comprise piston heads and piston rams, said piston heads beingaxially spaced from each other and said piston rams being concentricallymounted about a center ram, and said pistons have equal cross-sectionalworking faces against which the fluid is applied.
 13. An apparatus fordecreasing the distance between articles depending from a deformablestrip of stock material, which comprises: a block having a firstchamber, a second chamber, a first bore interconnecting said first andsecond chambers, a third chamber, a second bore interconnecting saidsecond and third chambers, and a third bore communicating said thirdchamber with a surface of said block; a piston slidably mounted in saidfirst chamber; a ram mounted to and extending from said piston, said rampassing through said second and third chambers, and through said first,second, and third bores, said ram having a first angular-stepped offset;a first material shaping element positioned on the end of said ram; afirst sleeve slidably fitted over said ram and extending from saidsecond chamber through said second bore, said third chamber, and saidthird bore, said first sleeve having a first peripheral flange slidablymounted in said second chamber and a second angular-stepped offsetspaced from said first offset to provide a first gap therebetween; asecond material shaping element on the end of said first sleeve; asecond sleeve slidably fitted over said first sleeve and extending fromsaid third chamber through said third bore, said second sleeve having asecond peripheral flange slidably mounted in said third chamber and athird angular-stepped offset spaced from said second offset to provide asecond gap; a third material shaping element on the end of said secondsleeve; said second offset having a bore interconnecting said first andsecond gaps; first fluid passage means between said first and secondchambers terminating in the first chamber as a port, said first fluidpassage means being covered by said piston when said piston is disposedat a first position, and uncovered when said piston is disposed at asecond position; second fluid passage means between said second andthird chambers, terminating the second chamber as a port, said secondfluid passage means being covered by said first peripheral flange whensaid first flange is disposed at a third position, and uncovered whensaid first flange is disposed at a fourth position; and means forapplying pressurized fluid to said piston to advance said piston andsaid first material shaping element, and to sequentially (1) uncoversaid port of said first fluid passage means, (2) pass said pressurizedfluid through said port of said first fluid passage means and onto saidfirst flange disposed at said third position in said second chamber, (3)advance said first sleeve to said fourth position to uncover said portof said second fluid passage means and to advance said second materialshaping element, and (4) pass said pressurized fluid through said portof second fluid passage means and onto said second flange to advancesaid second sleeve and said third material shaping element.
 14. Anapparatus as defined in claim 13 wherein the bottom face of said firstchamber engages said piston disposed at said second position to limitthe displacement thereof, wherein the bottom face of said second chamberengages said first flange disposed at said fourth position to limit thedisplacement thereof, and wherein the bottom face of said third chamberengages said second flange to limit the displacement thereof.
 15. In amaterial shaping apparatus; a block having a first chamber, a secondchamber, a first bore interconnecting said first and second chambers anda second bore extending from said second chamber to the surface of saidblock; a first piston slidably positioned within said first chamber andhaving a first material shaping ram extending through said first bore,said second chamber and said second bore; a second piston slidablymounted on said first ram, slidably mounted in said second chamber, andhaving a second material shaping ram extending through said second bore;means for applying pressurized fluid to said first piston to move saidfirst piston and said first material shaping ram; and fluid passagemeans in said block uncovered by a predetermined movement of said firstpiston for passing pressurized fluid from the first chamber to saidsecond chamber to move said second piston and said second materialshaping ram.
 16. A process for decreasing the distance between adjacentarticles depending from a deformable strip which comprises: mounting aplurality of work tools concentrically about a common axis; supportingthe strip for deformation between adjacent depending articles and foraxial movement of the ends of the strip toward each other; moving afirst one of the work tools through a predetermined distance into workfabricating relation with the strip to deform the strip between adjacentarticles at a center portion thereof, without stretching the strip, andto move the articles on either side of the deformation into apredetermined closer proximity; and moving, subsequent to and inresponse to the advance of the first one of the work tools through thepredetermined distance, successive ones of the work tools into workfabricating relation with the strip to sequentially deform the strip,without stretching the material thereof, between the next adjacentarticles on each side of the preceding deformations, starting from thecenter portion of the strip and progressing outwardly therefrom untileach depending article is moved into a predetermined closer proximitywiTh each adjacent depending article.
 17. A method of decreasing thedistance between a plurality of articles, wherein the articles aresupported by and extend in a parallel, spaced array from a deformablestrip of stock material, which method comprises: mounting a plurality ofwork tools concentrically about a common axis; moving a first one of thework tools through a predetermined distance into work fabricatingrelation with the strip to apply a predetermined localized forcetransversely to the deformable strip and at a centermost portion thereofto crimp said strip, without stretching the material thereof, todecrease the distance between the articles on either side of saidcentermost portion and to decrease the distance between said centermostportion of said strip and the peripheral portions thereof; and thenmoving successive ones of the work tools into work fabricating relationwith the strip to sequentially apply predetermined localized forcestransversely to said strip at equidistant positions on either side ofsaid centermost portion and between articles at progressively greaterdistances from said centermost portion to crimp successive portions ofsaid strip, without stretching the material thereof, and to move thearticles disposed at progressively more remote distances from saidcentermost portion a predetermined distance closer thereto.